According to a league source, the Panthers have released veteran cornerback Drayton Florence, who for nearly all of training camp and the preseason took first-team reps at cornerback. Florence, an 11-year veteran, joined the Panthers in March as an unrestricted free agent. He solidified his role in the defensive backfield one week into training camp. Florence held down that starting role through the preseason, with his best game coming in the third exhibition against the Ravens where he picked off a Joe Flacco pass and returned it 71 yards for a touchdown. For those reasons, the move is somewhat surprising and unexpected but Carolina's secondary has stepped up this preseason with 10 interceptions, which led the NFL in the preseason. Source: Charlotte Observer
